Water-skiing includes conventional water-skiing, as well as anyone towed behind a boat on aquaplanes, kneeboards, inner tubes, air mattresses, parasails, kite skis, or any similar device. Persons engaged in barefoot, jump, or trick skiing may elect to wear, at their own risk, a wetsuit designed specifically for that activity. A USCG-approved life jacket must be carried in the boat for each skier electing to wear the special water-ski wetsuit. Inflatable life jackets are not acceptable for anyone towed behind a boat.

In addition to the operator, a competent observer must be in the boat in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed. A competent observer is a person who has the ability to assess when a skier is in trouble, knows and understands the water-skiing hand signals, and is capable of helping a skier.

• To prevent propeller-related accidents, turn off your engine before picking up any skier.
• Skiing is prohibited between sunset and sunrise.
• Skiers count in the boat’s total capacity.
• Skiers may start from the shore or dock if boat traffic permits. Skiers may not return to the shore or dock under power.
• Installation of ski ramps and jumps requires a permit from the PA Fish & Boat Commission. Mooring or drifting within 100 feet of a ski ramp or jump while it is in use is prohibited.
• Kite skiing and parasailing are permitted only on waters where unrestricted skiing is permitted.
• It is legal to tow more than one skier except when locally prohibited. Ski tow ropes may not exceed the following lengths:
  -- Conventional water-ski - 80 feet
  -- Parasails - 300 feet
  -- Nonreleasable kite ski - 150 feet
  -- Releasable kite ski - 500 feet
• It is unlawful to operate a motorboat at any speed with a person or persons sitting, riding or hanging on a swim platform (teak surfing) or swim ladder attached to the motorboat, except when launching, retrieving, docking or anchoring the motorboat.
• It is unlawful to operate a motorboat at any speed when towing a person on water skis or other devices using a tow rope of 20 feet or less.

WATER-SKIING HAND SIGNALS